Assef brings out his affection for the phrase after he describes the way Afghanistan seems to him and his Taliban buddies. He describes Afghanistan as a beautiful house that has been filled with trash and himself as a Hitler like character who has been given the opportunity and power to take out all that trash and cleanse the country of the minorities like the Hazara.

Assef serves as a very flat character in the story with only brief hints of any sort of humanity that are quickly overshadowed by his cruel and sadistic nature. He plays this role in order to serve as the foil to Amir and the opportunity for Amir to find redemption in opposing this horrible evil.